Kilgorman: A Story of Ireland in 1798

by Talbot Baines Reed

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

  MUTINY.

  A week of light and fickle winds brought us through the Channel and wellon our way to Yarmouth Roads, off which we understood Admiral Duncan waslying. As we passed the Downs, strange and ugly rumours of troubleahead met us. One night, as we lay anchored waiting for our wind, I wason deck at my watch when I caught the sound of oars approaching the_Zebra_. Shortly after several missives were pitched on deck, one ofwhich alighted just at my feet.

  I examined it with some curiosity. It was a bundle of printed papersaddressed to the sailors of England, calling upon them to insist on theredress of grievances, and to stand by their brethren who at that momentwere in a state of mutiny at the Nore. Other papers described thesuccess which had attended a similar mutiny at Spithead a week or sopreviously. Another was a flaring proclamation, signed "Parker,President," on board H.M.S. _Sandwich_ at the Nore, announcing that thefleet was in the hands of the men; that all the obnoxious officers wereunder arrest; that the Thames was under strict blockade; that conditionshad been offered to the Admiralty; and that, if these were not acceptedwithin a given time, it was the intention of the leaders of the mutinyto put to sea and hand the ships in their possession to the enemy.Further, it was stated that the fleet at the Nore was being dailyrecruited by deserters from the North Sea squadron and elsewhere; thatarms and supplies were abundant; and that England was at the mercy ofthose whom up till now she had treated as veritable slaves. And so on.

  All this greatly troubled me; for, from what I knew of the crew of the_Zebra_, such seditious stuff furnished just the fuel required to setthe spirit of the men in a blaze. The other missives thrown on board,no doubt containing the same or similar matter, had pretty certainlyfallen into the hands of those who would read the call to mutiny withdifferent eyes from mine. If so, the mischief was already far gone.

  I hastened with my papers to Lieutenant Adrian, who glanced over themcontemptuously.

  "All bunkum and wind," said he, pitching them into a corner. "We haveheard this sort of thing before."

  "If it is true, sir," I ventured to say, "that the ships at the Norehave mutinied, we had better give them a wide berth, for it's a catchingthing."

  "Pooh! there's no more in it than the cat and a noose or two at theyard-arms can cure," said he. "However, keep your eyes open, MrGallagher, and report the first sign of mutiny. There's nothing likenipping it in the bud."

  For all the lieutenant's assumed indifference, further consultation withthe captain and the other officers resulted in some needful precautionsbeing taken. The watches were increased, the ammunition was placedunder extra guard, and picked men were told off to man the helm. As thesouth-easterly breeze was rising, too, orders were given to weigh anchorat once and put to sea.

  The men obeyed the orders to set sail in a sullen, mechanical way, whichdid not grow more hearty as they saw that every officer carried hispistol in his belt, and watched the execution of every command withsuspicious keenness.

  It was only when the order to turn in gave them the opportunity ofcongregating in larger numbers and discussing the proclamation that theytook heart, and arrived at something like a united policy. Had I had myown way that night, convinced as I was of the inevitable outcome ofdelay, I would have clapped down the hatches and left them there todeliberate till doomsday, or such time as they chose to beg for releaseon the captain's terms. As it was, there was nothing to do but tospeculate moodily on what the morrow would bring forth, and meanwhilemake what use we could of the favouring breeze to put as many leagues aspossible between ourselves and the treasonable neighbourhood of theNore.

  The worst of it was that the honest grievances of the seamen were sopatent, and the injustice they suffered at the hands of officers likeLieutenant Adrian so flagrant, that had they been fairly stated andfairly met nothing but good could have come of it. But put forward asthey were likely to be by a crew like ours, and encouraged and fomentedby agitators such as those who had drawn up the proclamation, what issuewas probable but one of desperate struggle and probably bloodshed?

  It was plainly seen, when hands were piped next morning, that the temperof the men had changed for the worse. As they strolled indolently up ondeck, and glanced up at the well-set sails, and saw the bows pointingdue north, and as their eyes fell on the bright pistols and side-arms atthe officers' belts, it was evident they were in some doubt as to whatcourse to pursue.

  They talked together in surly groups, arguing probably that on the highsea, away from support, and in the presence of a forewarned andforearmed body of officers, their chances of seizing the ship were notpromising; and one or two were bold enough audibly to regret their follyfor not having struck their blow and hoisted the red flag while the_Zebra_ lay in friendly company in the Downs.

  Finally, as I supposed, it was decided to wait till we reached YarmouthRoads, and claim the support of the mutineers there. Meanwhile orderswere obeyed with ominous silence; and worse still, the few loyal men onwhom the officers had counted to stand by them were got at and drawninto consultation with their messmates, and some of them were seducedinto taking part with the malcontents.

  Next afternoon we sighted sails to northward; but as just then thebreeze fell dead, we were unable before nightfall to ascertain whetherthey were ships of Admiral Duncan's squadron or not. While LieutenantAdrian was deliberating with the other officers as to whether we shouldput off a boat to get word of them, the men came aft in a body anddemanded a conference.

  Their spokesman was an Irishman whom I recognised as one of the newhands brought on board at the last moment off Dublin. He was a glib,noisy fellow, clever most likely at anything but seamanship, of which heknew nothing, and very little acquainted with the seamen's grievances ofwhich he elected himself to speak.

  Lieutenant Adrian, who was in an ill-enough temper at the time, orderedhim to take himself and the dogs at his heels to the place they camefrom, unless he wanted to taste the lash.

  The men, who had expected some such reception, stood their ground, andordered Callan, for that was the leader's name, to say on.

  "It's not yourself we need to speak to," said Callan, "it's the captain.Let us see him."

  "My lads," said the ship's surgeon, who was one of the officers present,"you are like enough to see your captain in his shroud before morning,for he is this moment at death's door."

  "So much the worse," replied Callan. "There was hope of justice out ofCaptain Swift; there's none at all out of the lieutenant."

  "There's precious good hope of a rope's end," retorted the enragedlieutenant hotly.--"Mr Gallagher, see that the fool is put in irons atonce, and any one else that joins with him. We'll soon put an end tothis, even should a man dangle at every yard-arm for it!"

  The only reply to this was a cheer from the men, and, what was quiteunexpected, a sudden click of pistols as they drew up in two linesacross the deck.

  "Look'ee here, Mr Adrian," said Callan, "we're not the fools you takeus for. While you have been drinking, we have not been idle. Thepowder-magazine is ours, and the forward guns are loaded and primed andturned this way.--Stand aside, lads, and let them see for themselves."

  The ranks opened, and sure enough in the forecastle we could see themuzzles of two twenty-four pounders pointed at the quarter-deck, andmanned by some of the very men of whose loyalty until yesterday therehad been least question.

  Lieutenant Adrian, although a bully and a brute, was not lacking inanimal courage, and betrayed no sign of dismay at this discovery.

  "If you think we are to be frightened, hang you," said he, "you are muchmistaken. What is it you want?"

  A coarse laugh greeted this tame ending to his speech. One old tar puthimself forward before Callan could reply.

  "It's like this," said he, with a salute. "We mean no disrespect to thecaptain or the service, but--"

  "Hold your tongue," said Callan, pushing him aside.--"What do we want?That's easy told."

  And he took a pap
er from his pocket and read:--

  "_First_. The first lieutenant, the third lieutenant, the master, themaster's mate, the boatswain, and Midshipmen Gamble and Brock, to leavethe ship and be put ashore.

  "_Second_. The ship to be taken to the Nore, and placed under theorders of Admiral Parker.

  "_Third_. The remaining officers either to take the oath or be placedunder arrest.

  "_Fourth_. Two delegates, chosen by the men, to attend the admiral'scouncil, and act and vote on behalf of the ship."

  Lieutenant Adrian listened with an ill-concealed smile, in which, Iconfess, he was by no means alone.

  "And what if we reject your precious first, second, third, and fourthpiece of infernal impudence?"

  "Then we shall take what we want without asking," replied Callan withcool effrontery. "You may take an hour to decide.--Come, boys."

  The men gave another cheer, and retired singing "Rule, Britannia." Theyleft, however, a strongly-armed picket to cut off access from thequarter-deck to the rest of the ship.

  The night was still dead calm, and the _Zebra_ lay like a log in thesea, her sails drooping, and her head swinging idly with the tide.

  "Well?" inquired one or two, looking at Lieutenant Adrian.

  "Well?" retorted that officer. "If you want to know what I intend todo, I mean to drink a bottle of port below. There is but one answer togive, and nothing to discuss. So you may fetch me in an hour."

  "Shall we tell the captain?" asked Mr Felton, the second lieutenant,who, if he had only been superior to Mr Adrian, would have seen usthrough the crisis with more credit than we were likely to get.

  "Certainly not," said the doctor authoritatively. "The consultation inhis cabin yesterday was a fatal mistake as far as he is concerned. Lethim at least die in peace now."

  "How many loyal men do we muster, Mr Gallagher?" said Mr Felton.

  "Twenty-five, all told, sir," replied I. "We cannot count on any of themen for certain, though one or two may join us if it comes to a fight."

  "It will certainly come to that," said Mr Felton quietly. And no oneentertained the least question on that score.

  "We have one ally more," observed the master, who had for some time beensniffing the night air. "Unless I mistake, there's a sou'-wester comingup in a jiffy."

  "I think you are right, master," said Mr Felton. "That will put usover to the Dutch side, anyhow."

  "And there's another ally yet, sir," said I. "They've got possession ofthe two casks of rum that were last shipped at Dublin."

  "In that case," said the second lieutenant, laughing, "we may count on afull hour before we are disturbed. If we are to make a fight of it, letit be a good one. Gentlemen," said he, addressing the company, "thequarter-deck is still ours; twenty-five loyal men are a match for twohundred and fifty scoundrels any day. Bring the stern-guns intoposition, and throw up a barricade here. Look to your pistols andswords, and don't waste bullets or powder. The worst they can do is toblow the ship up, and that they won't do.--Master, you were right aboutthe breeze. Bring her round as soon as she moves.--And some of youyoung gentlemen," said he to the midshipmen, "be ready to bear a handaloft with the sails.--Mr Gallagher, watch your chance of getting roundto the forecastle and doctoring the guns there. You are not a new hand,I hear, at such a job.--Now, gentlemen all, we can but die once; let usdo it well while we are about it."

  This spirited address had a great effect, and whatever sense ofhelplessness had been caused by the disparity of our numbers and thestrong position of the mutineers, gave way to a desperate resolve togive a good account of ourselves before we yielded up the ship.

  I could not help believing that some of the older and more experiencedhands, though now borne down by the general feeling of insubordination,would side with us if only we could show a strong hand. If so, therewould not be seamanship enough in the rest to set a topsail or read achart; and every moment the breeze was freshening and promising us alively morning.

  The _Zebra_ still hung listlessly in the water, but any moment now shemight get under way. There was no time therefore to be lost in gettingunobserved at the forward guns, which I was convinced was only to bedone by dropping overboard and swimming round to the stem, where therewas sufficient hanging tackle to help oneself on board with.

  I secured the services of the master's mate in this perilous venture--atough sea-dog who was ready for anything, provided it was out of thecommonplace. This business, I promised him, would at least be that.

  The quartermaster had charge of the helm.

  "Look alive, my lads," said he, as we prepared to let ourselvesoverboard; "her head may go round any moment. As she lies you can dropon to it easy. Take a line with you, and pay out as you go, as you'llneed it to come back by. Over you go."

  We secured our pistols as best we could against the water, and then oneafter the other dropped over the stern and struck out for the peak. Theship was already beginning to sway on the breeze, and once or twice aswe kept close under her side we were in peril of being sucked under orelse crushed down by her lurches. However, we managed to reach thehanging tackle below the bowsprit without misadventure; and making fastthe end of the line we carried, so that it hung close on the water-linefrom stem to stern, we began to haul ourselves, with our knives betweenour teeth, up into the shrouds.

  While we were doing so the ship swung round into the wind, and began tomove through the water.

  As soon as we got our heads level with the gunwale we could dimly seethe forecastle deck before us, and the breeches of the two twenty-fourpounders, pointed astern. There was a man in charge of each. The twosat on the deck, with a can of liquor between them, playing dice in aquarrelsome, half-tipsy way. The rest of the company were assembled onthe middle deck, and, to judge by the sounds, were deep in thediscussion of their rum and their grievances.

  I gave my comrade a signal, and next moment we sprang noiselessly onboard, and had the two gunners overpowered, gagged, and made fast beforethey could utter a sound or reach for their arms.

  Then without losing a moment we drove our nails into the touch-holes ofthe guns, trusting to the noise of the revellers and the dash of thewater at the bows to drown the sound of the hammer. This done wedropped overboard, each with a prisoner, as quietly as we had come, andwith the aid of the line reached the stern in safety, and foundourselves once more on the sanctuary of the quarter-deck.

  Scarcely had we done so when we became aware of a movement among theenemy. So busily occupied had they been in their debauch that they hadnot noticed the change in the weather, or the advantage which had beentaken of it to put the ship under way. As it was, they might have evenallowed that to pass, supposing it only brought them nearer to YarmouthRoads, when one of the old salts in their number pronounced that the newwind was from another quarter, and that instead of closing in with theadmiral's fleet off Yarmouth the _Zebra_ was running for the open seawith a strong south-wester astern.

  Finding themselves thus hoodwinked, and already excited by drink, theleaders, and as many of the men as could be enticed from the liquor,came once more aft and demanded another interview.

  The quarter-deck, except for the sentries, the watch, and the men at theguns, was comparatively deserted, the officers having retired belowuntil the hour allowed by the enemy had expired.

  The senior officer present was Mr Felton.

  "Quartermaster," said he, as he stepped up to the helmsman, "how doesshe sail?"

  "Nor'-east by east, sir. Making ten knots an hour."

  "Keep her so.--Mr Gamble," said he, turning to a midshipman, "have thegoodness to go to my cabin at once and fetch the magnet you will findlying in the drawer of my desk."

  In a minute Mr Gamble had performed his errand. Mr Felton meanwhilehad lifted the cover of the compass-box, into which he now inserted thesmall magnet, so that it pulled the needle a quarter of the circleround, and made it appear that our course was due north.

  "That should give us time," said he as h
e replaced the cover. "Theland-lubbers will know no better.--Use your pocket-compass,quartermaster, and keep her as she is.--Now, my man," said he,addressing one of the loyal marines who had been standing sentry, "whatis it?"

  "If you plaze, sir, the hounds beyant there want a word with yez."

  "Tell them the hour is not yet up, and that Mr Adrian is below."

  "Sure I told them so, and Callan, he's their talking man, says he mustsee yourself, or there'll be mischief."

  "Very good," said Mr Felton. "Pass the word below for all hands ondeck; and let every man go quietly to his place.--Marine, allow Callanon the quarter-deck."

  But Mr Callan was not tipsy enough to fall into such a trap, andinsisted on the honours of war and the word of a gentleman that he andthree of his followers should be allowed safe-conduct, hinting at thesame time that the forward guns were still in position, and that anyattempt to break parole would be visited with ugly consequences.

  Lieutenant Felton gravely gave the necessary assurance, whereupon,ordering their followers to wait below, Callan and three comrades, astipsy as himself, staggered up the ladder.

  "Now, sir, what is the matter?" demanded Mr Felton.

  "Matter? The ship's on the wrong tack. You're sailing her out to sea;and if she's not put round at once, we'll put her about for you."

  Mr Felton laughed.

  "Not so easy to sail out to sea in this wind as you think, my lad. Iwonder, now, if you really know what direction we are going in."

  One of the four replied, "Nor'-east," unless he was mistaken.

  "Bless me," said the officer, "and these are the men who pretend tospeak in the name of the British seaman! I should prefer to take theword of the compass against yours in a cap of wind, my fine fellow, anyday. Nor'-east, indeed!"

  "The compass will say the same as us; or maybe we're a point more toeastward."

  "You can satisfy yourself as to that if you please," said Mr Feltondryly.--"Mr Gallagher, take these men and show them the compass. Itwill be a lesson to them in navigation."

  The laughter of the company succeeded in effectually damping theconfidence of our amateur seamen as they slowly followed me abaft.

  "Steer gingerly round these guns," said I, as we passed the two gunswhich had been brought to bear on the forecastle; "they're loaded.Gently now; it's not so steady walking on a deck as round the Newgateexercise-yard. Come away now.--Quartermaster, show a light on thecompass here for these gentlemen. They have come to give us a lesson inseamanship."

  "Compass!" said the quartermaster with a chuckle. "Ain't the stars goodenough for you? Who but a landlubber ever needed to look at a compassto see which way the wind blew? However, look away; and if it's a pointout of due north call me a Dutchman."

  The men peered stupidly over the compass.

  "It's north, sure enough," growled the only man of the party who was atall weatherwise. "I could have sworn it was nor'-east or more."

  To encourage him I tapped the glass.

  "We could make it nor'-east for you by putting a spring on the needle,if that's what you want," said I with a laugh.

  Callan and the others looked wisely at the mendacious instrument, andthen began to sheer off with the best grace they could.

  "We should be in Yarmouth Roads at this rate by daybreak," said he,"provided they play us no tricks."

  "We'll see to that," said the old salt. "Now we know she's sailingnorth we'll see she keeps so, or there'll be the mischief in it."

  "Come away now," said I, "your friends will be missing you; and whatwill become of your first, second, third, and fourth without you?"

  It did not tend to raise the spirits of the four noble mariners as theypassed round the guns to hear the laughter and cries of "nor'-east byeast it is, sir," which greeted their passage. Nor did they quiterecover till they returned to the arms of their comrades, who bore themoff with the glorious news that a fresh cask of rum had been broached,and that the lights of Yarmouth were already visible on the horizon.